FIFA World Cup 2018 - GROUP G [Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England - 18/23/24/28 June] **spoilers**

[FrankJH]

It was a scrappy win, Kane was stood on the exact spot where the ball came to him, scored two absolute sitters and missed every shot that required some control.
!

I think you are being a little harsh on Kane

1st one was ping ball wizard in a very crowded penalty area, and the way he twisted his head for the 2nd to redirect the header near post and also keep / generate more pace on the ball was very well done.

He didn't have that many other chances (I remember one which was saved from him) but Stirling and Lingard did miss some fabulous chances.

 

[McBain]

Kane did what we needed him to do and put away the two chances he had.

I'd take a striker who does absolutely nothing but scores two goals a game, every day of the week.

 

[MatteH Oxford]

So he did what a forward should do and positioned himself perfectly?

He was routed to the spot and just happened to be exactly in the right place purely by chance, not down to his ability or skill i.e. perhaps running with the ball or actually getting into position and scoring.

 

[Dis86]

He was routed to the spot and just happened to be exactly in the right place purely by chance, not down to his ability or skill i.e. perhaps running with the ball or actually getting into position and scoring.

So twice in a game where he was the only goal scorer in open play he just happened to be in the right place at the right time by chance.
Ok.

 

[Ayahuasca]

Kane did what we needed him to do and put away the two chances he had.

I'd take a striker who does absolutely nothing but scores two goals a game, every day of the week.

Exactly, didn't see the Germans whinging about Klose or Muller not scoring wonder goals at tournaments, the majority were tap-ins.

 

[postbox]

He was routed to the spot and just happened to be exactly in the right place purely by chance, not down to his ability or skill i.e. perhaps running with the ball or actually getting into position and scoring.

Have you ever watched Kane play? this is a sign of a very good forward, there is no such thing as being in the right place at the right time consistently "purely by chance"

 

[MatteH Oxford]

So twice in a game where he was the only goal scorer in open play he just happened to be in the right place at the right time by chance.
Ok.

He hardly moved for several seconds before the ball literally landed at his feet or came towards his head, you obviously weren't watching the same game.

Have you ever watched Kane play? this is a sign of a very good forward, there is no such thing as being in the right place at the right time consistently "purely by chance"

There is when you have barely moved during several seconds of play

 

[toshj]

He was routed to the spot and just happened to be exactly in the right place purely by chance, not down to his ability or skill i.e. perhaps running with the ball or actually getting into position and scoring.

Or you mean that he successfully lost his marker on both occasions? His marker who'd essentially Velcro'ed himself to Kane throughout the games' corners.

90% of football is what a player does with himself when he's not got the ball. Positioning is something that's hard to teach, and even harder to perfect.

 

[McBain]

Sometimes standing still is what's needed..... a good player knows when, and when not to make a move.

Not sure how he can be getting grief, whether he stood still or not he had two chances, two goals.

 

[Dis86]

He'd lost his marker and was in a great position. Why would he be running around?!

 

[Mr Jack]

Walker's foul was a penalty, but by the same standards, at least one of the tackles on Kane should have been as well.

It wasn't a foul. The Tunisia player ran into him and then throws himself to the ground. His arm wasn't raised. He doesn't violently swing it towards the player. He stands his ground and uses his arm to defend his space. That's not a foul.

The worst you can say about Walker is that it was perhaps a risky action to take in the penalty area.

 

[adam cool dude]

Exactly, didn't see the Germans winging about Klose or Muller not scoring wonder goals at tournaments, the majority were tap-ins.

Near enough all Klose's goals were in the 6 yard box!

 

[mmj_uk]

The problem we'll have with Kane is when we're up against a team where getting in and around the box is more difficult. Kane is your typical 'fox in the box' but he needs the rest of the team to create chances for him. Tunisia were poor at defending set pieces all match so it shouldn't be surprising he got two set piece goals.

 

[Shocky-FM]

Some nice tackles on Kane last night, forgot what sport I was watching for a moment.

What are the TV refs watching? No way they investigated those and dismissed them.

 

[fez]

I can't believe people are complaining about Kane after last night. A massive part of a top strikers game is usually being in the right place at the right time to get the tap ins. Lukaku does exactly that for a lot of his goals. All those balls across the keeper that have no one on the end are tap ins for a well placed striker.

Thats ignoring the fact that Kane is pretty complete in all areas of forward play. He can drive at defenders, score from outside the box, make a yard of space to get a shot off. Very few top strikers score most of their goals from outside the box.

 

[spook2575]

Being in the right place at the right time is a skill in itself for it to happen consistently. With the runners in the england team, vital to have Kane play this role.

 

[melmac]

Are people always this biased? Did no one on this board who are claiming for this penalty genuinely not see Stones clearly foul his marker before Kane was fouled? I find it baffling how people are completely ignoring it...

People are ignoring it because they are angry at the performance and want something to blame.

The second incident with Kane wasn't a penalty either. It's a pretty old trick, grab the arm of the defender and fall over surprised at the amount of "experts" who suggested that was a penalty.

It wasn't a foul. The Tunisia player ran into him and then throws himself to the ground. His arm wasn't raised. He doesn't violently swing it towards the player. He stands his ground and uses his arm to defend his space. That's not a foul.

The worst you can say about Walker is that it was perhaps a risky action to take in the penalty area.

His arm wasn't raised? What are you watching? He threw his left arm at head height back behind him. It was a completely unnatural motion. It was stupid by Walker.

But it shouldn't have been about the Refs or VAR. England should have won comfortably. Tunisia were very poor. They couldn't defend set pieces. England should have been at least 3-0 in the first 15 minutes. The Tunisia defence weren't able to deal with any crosses. Even from that first penalty incident with Kane, England should have scored. Quick early ball into the wide channels and crossing into the box was working, creating open chances. But, after 15-20 minutes, lets not do that anymore and they changed to playing intricate moves from the back and a slow buildup. That suited Tunisia.

Despite a lot of misses I don't think England have a problem attacking. They looked good going forward, I was impressed with Lingard and Kane. I think better teams will expose them in the back. I am not convinced that Maguire, Walker and Stones are good enough. ​

 

[FrankJH]

It wasn't a foul. The Tunisia player ran into him and then throws himself to the ground. His arm wasn't raised. He doesn't violently swing it towards the player. He stands his ground and uses his arm to defend his space. That's not a foul.

The worst you can say about Walker is that it was perhaps a risky action to take in the penalty area.

yes he did swing his arm, its very clear that's what happened, watch the angle from the side and his arm goes behind him , Im not disputing the guy ran into it, but Walker was really stupid to make the arm movement in the first place especially in an international event (where this kind of thing is more likely to be picked up on)

 

[Mr Jack]

His arm wasn't raised? What are you watching? He threw his left arm at head height back behind him. It was a completely unnatural motion. It was stupid by Walker.

His arm wasn't raised it was pointed at the floor. It also wasn't at head height. The Tunisian literally ducks into it.

Foolish from Walker, yes, but poor refing to give it and worse to do so without consulting the available VAR.

 

[trigg_27]

Has anyone pointed out that the referee was from Columbia - a team who would (before their surprise result against Japan) have expected to face the runner-up from group G in the round of 16?

It would be in their national interests for that runner up to be Tunisia instead of England...